Voting-machine interlocking mechanism.



No. 794,914. I PATENTBD JULY 18, 1905; P. YOE.

VOTING MACHINE INTERLOCKING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATIOH mum mu. 9, 1905.

3 sums-51mm 1-.

PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

P. YOE. VOTING MACHINB INTERLOGKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED EAR. 9, 1905,

3 SHEETS- 511113! 2.

v PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

' Y P. YOE] VOTING MACHINE INTERLOGKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED HA3. 9, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

UNITED STATES Patented July 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP YOE, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF, EDWARD W. HANLEY, ANDKERIEN FITZPATRIOK, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

VOTING-MACHINE INTERLOCKING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,914, dated July 18,1905.

Application filed March 9, 1905. Serial No. 249,167.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP Yon, a citizen of the United States, residingat Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio,have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Voting-Machine InterlockingMechanism; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such. as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same,

reference being had to the accompanying ments which provide ample meansfor chang ing the interlocking mechanism from a single candidate to amulticandidate group, or vice versa.

The invention embodies in the present instance interlocking mechanismwhich complies with the election laws of the State of Ohio, where womenare entitled to vote for members of the board of education only.

The interlocking mechanism is also arranged to mechanically control thecasting of votes for members of the State legislature-in the State ofIllinois, for example. A single ballot may be cast for each of the threecandidates, or one and one-half ballots for each of two candidates, orthree ballots for a single candidate.

These and other novel features appertaining to the interlockingmechanism will be fully described in the following specification.

Preceding a detail description of the invention reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, of which- Figure 1 is a rear elevation of themachine, parts of the interlocking mechanism removed and the casingremoved. Fig. 2 is a vertical enlarged sectional elevation about on theline a: w of Fig. 1, showing features of the interlocking mechanism andexclusion and the operating mechanism thereof. The mechanism as shown inthis view is in a position which looks the setting-keys. When themachine is unlocked from this position, it is in a condition for womento vote for respective candidates. Fig. 3 is a detail view of theinterlocking mechanism, showing it in a different position from thatshown in Fig. 2 or in a position which unlocks the machine and placesthe mechanism in a position for men to vote. Fig. 4: is a detailsectional view. of the operating mechanism for a single candidate. Fig.5 is a detail sectional view of the accessory interlocking mechanismwhich is instrumental in voting for members of a State legislatureforexample, for the State of Illinois. Fig. 6 is a detail view of thefull-stroke mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of one of thesliding members of the interlocking mechanism, showing a part of theinterlocking rod connection operating therewith. Fig. 8 is a sectionalview on the line o 1;, showing the means for changing the mechanism foreither class of votingfor example, men or women. Fig. 9 is a detailperspective view of one of the locking members which is instrumental inlooking one or the other classes of voting mechanism for example, themen or women mechanisms. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of one ofthe abutmentframes for a set of the interlocking members. I

In a detail description of the invention similar reference charactersindicate corresponding parts.

The machine consists of a general framework 1, which is provided with aseries of parallel cross-bars 2, which are connected to the framework,and a series of upright bars 8, which are likewise connected to the topof the frame and to the cross-bars 2. The vertical bars 3 provide aseries of spaces 3, in which is placed the mechanism for each oflice.For

' is locked against voting.

example, each two of said vertical bars provide a certain number ofvertical divisions 3, and each of these divisions is occupied withmechanism for a certain candidate to be voted for for a designatedoffice. The main operating-shaft4 is mounted in the lower portion of theframe in suitable bearings and has connected with it on the exterior ofthe machine an operating-arm 5, through which said shaft is rocked tothe necessary extent to operate the counters after the voting mechanismis set. (The counters are not shown and are the subject-matter ofanother application.) Upon this main shaft t there is rigidly secured adisk 6, which has upon its periphery a tooth 7 and a cam-surface 8, alsopins 9 and 10, projecting from one side thereof.

11 designates a horizontal locking-bar extending across the machine andrigidly mounted upon stub-shafts 12 at each side of the machine, saidlocking-bar having a rocking movement for the purposes presentlydescribed. Projecting upwardly from one end of said locking-bar is anarm 13, having a curvature, as shown in Fig. 3, and provided with a slot14. The arm 13 lies in the path of or in a position to be engaged by thetooth 7 to move said locking-bar in position shown in Fig. 3.

When the operating-arm 5 is in the position shown in Fig. l, thelocking-bar 11 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, and when in suchposition it lies above a series of interlocking members 15, and in suchposition the machine Referring to the detail features of theseinterlocking members, Fig. 7 is referred to, where the specialconstruction of the device is fully illustrated, and the abutment-framewithin which each set of such devices is mounted is shown in Fig. 10.The said devices have each a vertical slot 16, ex tending in the lowerportion thereof, through which the rod 18 extends, said rod being fasjtened in the sides of the abutments l9 and the upper portions of saidmembers extending through said openings and terminating in a hook. 17,17 17 and 17 designate enlargements on the lower portion of said memberswhich engage rollers 20 and stops 20, said rollers and stops lying aboveand across rod 18 and lying within a recess in the abutments 19, thesaid rod supporting said rollers and stops between the interlockingmembers. The

abutment-frames 19 are supported in position ing mechanism, may beremoved and others 5 said interlocking parts remain in theabutment-frames when the latter are removed. In operating the machine itmay thus be changed from a single to a multiple machine by changing theabutment-frames. WV hen any one of the interlocking members 15 areelevated or operated, it will be understood that the rollers 20 willspread or move to one sid namely, to the side which has the space fortheir movement. These interlocking devices are operated throughconnecting-rods 26, each of which has a loop on its lower end, by whichit is coupled with its respective interlocking member. These connectionsbetween said coupling-rods 26 and interlocking members 15 are made whenthe ballot is made up. Connected to each of the rods 26 are a series ofactuating frames 27, which are fulcrumed upon rods 28, extending acrossthe upper portion of the machine and mounted in the upright partitions3. The forward ends of these frames 27 have slots 29, which receive lugs30, that extend from the inner ends of settingkeys 31, said lugsprojecting through slots 32 in the partitions 3. The setting-keys 31 aremounted upon rods 33, extending through the partitions 3, and the outerends of these keys extend on the exterior of the ballot-board 34. Itwill be understood that the ballot-board is constructed with a suitablenumber of openings, through which the setting-keys project, and thateach key is associated with a particular candidate, and, further, thateach of the rectangular spaces 3', formed by the partitions 3,represents a particular candidate, as hereinbefore stated. It will beunderstood. that when any one of the setting-keys is depressed theprojection or lug 3O rides out of the slot 29 and over the upper end ofthe actuating-frame 27 and causes a depression of said forward end and acorresponding elevation of the rearward end, thereby elevating arespective connecting-rod 26.

Means are provided in the machine for voting an independent ticket,which will now be described.

36 designates a single horizontal bank of independent-candidatesetting-keys, which are fulcrumed upon a shaft 37, extending through thedivision-walls 3. The outer ends of these keys 36 extend across theupper end of a ticket or card slot 38, which leads to a receptacle 39,and which is the subject-matter of a separate application. Each one ofthe keys 36 represents a particular oi'lice, and in voting for thecandidate for such office the respective key 36 is elevated away fromits position across the slot 38, and the individual tickets or ballotsfor the various candidates for such ofiice are deposited in the slot,through which they pass into the receptacle 39 on the interior of themachine. When any one of the setting-keys 36 is thus elevated, the slot40 on the inner end thereof engages the end of its respectiveactuating-frame 27', and thus elevates its connecting-rod 26. The frames27' are fulcrumed upon a rod 28' and have their ends suitably formed toenter the slots 40. As the operating-arm 5 is shown in Fig. 1 themachine is locked against operation and the booth is opened ready for avoter to enter. After the voter enters the booth he closes the same bylowering the arm 5, as shown and described in my pending application,Serial No. 238,539. He then selects his various candidates by de-.pressing the candidate setting-keys 31. When the operating-arm 5 islowered, the disk 6 is moved therewith to disengage the cam-surface 8from the arm 13, and in the same movement the pin 9 is moved away fromthe arm 41, which is pivoted to the sides of the casing. In the finaldownward movement of said arm 5 the pin 10 engages the locking member41, thereby disengaging projection 42 on said locking member with thelower portion of the arm 13 and enables said projection 42 to enter theopening 14 in the arm 13. At the same time the projecting tooth 7engages the upper end of the arm 13 and holds the locking member 41 outof a locking position. As shown in Fig. 3, the limit of the movement ofthe disk 6, due to the lowering of the operatingarm 5, is shown, whilethe other limit of movement is shown in Fig. 2.

43 designates a stop-lug on the side of the casing, and 44 designatestwo similar lugs projecting from the hub of the locking member 41 inposition to be engaged on either side by the stop-lug 43, and thus thesaid member 41 is limited in its movement in both directions.

Full-stroke mechanism, by means of which a full stroke of theoperating-arm 5 is compelled, is shown in Fig. 6, and consists of aratchet-wheel 45, having teeth on a portion of its periphery, whichcorrespond to the extent of movement of the operating-arm. Thisratchet-wheel 45 is rigid on the shaft 4 and has two lugs 46, formingteeth at the limit of the movement of said ratchet-wheel in eitherdirection.

48 is a double-tooth ratchet-pawl which is mounted upon a shaft 52 onthe outer side of the casing, with its ends in a positionto alternatelyengage the teeth of the wheel 45. Projecting from the hub of said pawlthere is a tooth 47, which extends in a position to be tripped by thelugs or teth 46. From the position of the devices as shown in Fig. 6 itWlll be seen that the pawl 48 engages the ratchet-wheel at one or theother end of said pawl during the movement of said ratchet- 5 wheel inone or the other of its directions or movements and that the said pawlwill lock 'the ratchet-wheel against retrograde movement until acomplete operation of the wheel has taken place, at which time one orthe other of the lugs or teeth 46 will trip the intermediate pawl 47 andcause a reversal of the position of the pawl 48. The pawl 48 ismaintained in either of its positions until tripped by the lugs 46 bymeans of a jump-pawl 49, which engages either side of a retaining-pawl50, said retaining-pawl being held in an opera-' tive position by aweight 51.

I will now describe the mechanism'and the manner for placing the machinein a condition for women voting or men voting, it being understood thatchanges have to be made to conform with the law of various States, whichprovides that women voting must be kept entirely distinct from menvoting.

52 designates a shaft extending on the exterior of the machine andhaving signs 53, indicating men and women. This shaft is provided with apinion 54, which meshes with a segment-gear 55 just on the inside of themachine, said segment-gear being fixed to the end of a bar 56, which isprovided at both ends with a stub-shaft 57.

58 designates a series of bearing-brackets which are rigidly attached tothe bar 56 and extend downwardly to support rods 59 and 60, the formerof which engages in either one of the recesses 61 on the locking members62, said members being loosely mounted upon the rod 60. The lockingmembers 62 are of a construction which permits of their lower ends beingmoved into and out of position to engage or stop the upper ends of theinterlocking members 15. As shown in Fig. 2, one of these lockingmembers 62 is thrown into a position to lock the voting mechanism forone particular candidate, and another of said locking members 62 isthrown out of a position, or is in a position which permits of thevoting for the candidate with which it is associated, and so it will beunderstood that when the machine is placed in a position to permit womenvoting the locking member 62 for that particular voting will be moved toa position to disengage the interlocking members 15 and the remaininglocking members 62 will be moved to a position to interlock all theother interlocking members 15 of the men voting mechanism. The lockingmembers 62 are secured in either position by means of the recesses 61being occupied or unoccupied by the rod 59. The rod.59 is removed fromits bearing whenever it becomes necessary to change the position of anyof the locking members 62.

As the position of the mechanism appears in Fig. 2 a voteris within thebooth and the one class of voting to another--to wit, from men voting towomen voting, and vice versa cannot be changed. This is d no to an arm63, which projects from an end of a bar 56, being in such positionrelatively to a disk at as will not permit said arm to be moved. In thisposition the rounded portion of said arm lies adjacent to the roundperiphery of the disk 64. \Vhen the operating-arm 5 is elevated, therecessed edge 66 of the disk 6 L is moved to a position adjacent totheend of the arm 63, and said arm is thereby permitted to be moved to itsposition shown in .llig. 2, the edge 66 of the disk 64 being radial tothe stub-shaft 57.

I will now describe the voting mechanism for different denominations.

Referring to the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 5, a single ballot may becast for each of three candidates, or one and one-half ballots for eachof two candidates, or three ballots for asingle candidate. it will benoted that the enlargements on interlocking members 15 in this group areof different dimensions--to wit, seven being one-sixteenth of an inch;seven, three thirty-seconds 01 an inch, and ten three-sixteenths of aninch. The space 67 permits ot' the movement of any predetermined number01" said interlocking members. The ballot-board 34 will be arranged, forexample, with John Does name appearing in three corresponding spaceswith spaces 3. ()ne of the setting-keys will stand for one vote, thenext for a vote and a half, and the third and final one for three votes.All other candidates will appear in the same manner on the ballot-board.Assuming that one ol the enlargements 17 of the greatest dimension isactuated, which counts for three votes, the entire interlockingmechanism of the group will be locked and any other key cannot be moved.It will be apparent that the space 67, which is three-sixteenths of aninch wide, is suflicient to allow three of the smallest enlargements 17to be operated and will only allow two of the medium-size enlargements17". it will be observed that the enlargements 17 of the independentinterlocking members 15 are of the same dimensions as 17 of thedifferent denomination interlocking members. It will be understood thatonly one ticket-slot 38 will be open for the entire group. The voterwill write the name or names upon his card before casting it. It will benoted that the rollers and stops 20 and 20 are of different dimensionsand that some are flat on one side. This is due to the different sizesof the enlargements of the interlocking members 15.

I will now describe a multicandidate or group voting mechanism similarin general construction as the group-voting mechanism, Fig. 5, in whichprovisions are made to enable the voter to select a number ol candidatesirrespective of parties-for example, three members oi. the board ofpublic service for the city of Dayton, which consists of anabutment-frame of the same dimension as shown in Fig. 5also the samenumber of interlocking members to wit, twenty-one, with enlargements 17of one-sixteenth of an inch thereon---and also the same number ofindependent interlocking members 15 with enlargements .17" ofthree-sixteenths of an inch thereon. There is three-sixteenthsof an inchvacant space between the abutments 19' of the abutment-frames. Thus itwill be clearly understood that by operating any one of the threeimlependent interlocking members the entire vacant space will beoccupied, thus preventing the operation of any other interlocking memberoi. the entire group. As hereinbelore described, the voter is thusenabled to deposit his card in the receiving-slot 38 after writing thenames of the candidates thereon. If the voter desires to make aselection from the group of regulareandidate setting-keys, he depressesany three of the said setting-keys in the group, which actuates theircooperating interlocking members, and thus occupy the allotted spacebetween the abutments .19. in a group of :tour candidates there will befour independent interlocking members with OI'lC-fOLlI'llll of an inchenlargements thereon, and the vacant space will also be one-fourth of aninch. .It will be understood that the exact dimensions of theenlargements on the interlockingmembers will be regulated by the spacebetween the abutments 1.9 of the abutment-frames and the number ofinterlockingmembers mounted thereon.

Referring to Fig. at, this illustrates a singlecandidate votingmechanism, almtment-frame l9, and eight interlocking members 15, each ofwhich has an enlargement 17 lying on opposite sides of one-sixteenth ofan inch. Associated with these are four rollers 20 of onecighth of aninch diameter. One of said rollers lies between each pair of saidinterlocking members 15, and there is one-sixtecnth of an inch vacantspace between the abutments. Therefore only one interlocking member canmove at a time. If the interlocking members were as ordinarilyconstructed to wit, one roller for each member -the roller wouldnecessarily be only one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter and not ofsuliicient strength for a machine of this character.

I. am aware that it is old in the art-l:'or example, the cash-registerart to employ in locking a series of actuating-keys, a crossbar, alocking member to lock said cross-bar, and a reciprocating operatingmechanism. l.herefore I do not claim such construction in a broad sense.

It may be stated that the connecting-bars 26 and the actuating members15 may be constructed in one integral piece or the connections betweenthese parts may be permanent;

but for convenience they are shown as detached to said interlockingmembers, a suitable.

support for said individual frames 19 19, and single means to lock themin their supported positions, whereby said keys are adapted to actuate asingle-candidate interlocking mechanism or a multicandidate interlockingmechanism.

2. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination with aseries of setting-keys movable into and out of voting position, amovable abutment-frame, a series of interlocking members and stopspermanently mounted in said abutment-frame and movable between theabutments thereof, a series of rods connecting said keys with saidinterlocking members, and means for coupling and uncoupling said rodsand interlocking members.

3. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination with aseries of set ting-keys and their connecting-rods 26, of a movableabutment-frame, a series of interlocking members and stops movablebetween the abutments of said frame, means for detachably connectingsaid interlocking members and the said rods 26, and means for holdingsaid abutment-frame in its connected po sition.

4. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination with aseries of setting-keys, a rod connected to each one of said keys, amovable abutment-frame, a series of apertured interlocking members, aseries of stops, a cross-rod to hold them in position between theabutments of said abutment-frames, and means to couple and uncouple saidrod and interlocking members.

5. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination with aseries of setting-keys arranged in vertical columns, of a series ofinterlocking bars having enlargements detachably connected thereto atone end, and the other ends of said bars being pivot ally connected tosaid setting-keys, a series of stops or rollers movable by saidinterlockingbar enlargements, a series of horizontally-arranged movableabutment-frames, a suitable support therefor, and a single means such asa cross-bar mounted to lock said frames in their mounted positions. i

6. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination of aninterchangeable single-candidate and group voting abutmentframes,interlocking members and stops permanently mounted in saidabutment-frames, a plurality of series of setting-keys and theirconnecting-rods detachably connected to said interlocking members, asuitable support for said abutment-frames, and means for holding them intheir supported positions, whereby said setting-keys may be changed fromsingle-candidate to group voting, and vice versa.

7 In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination of amovable abutmentframe, a series of movable stops, a serles ofvinterlocking members having apertures, and

a rod extending through said abutment-frame and the apertures of saidinterlocking members.

8. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination of aseries of settingkeys and their connecting-bars, said bars havingenlargements alternately on opposite sides thereof and being arranged inpairs, and a roller between each pair of interlockingmembers.

9. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination of aseries of settingkeys of different denominations, a series of rodsconnected \to said keys, a movable abutment-frame, a series ofinterlocking members having enlargements of difierent dimensionsthereon, a series of stops permanently mounted between the abutments ofsaid frame, and means to couple and uncouple said rods and interlockingmembers.

10. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination with aseries of setting-keys of different denominations, a series of rodsattached to said keys, a series of interlocking members havingenlargements of different dimensions detachably connected to said rods,a series of stops movable by said interlocking members, a movableabutmentframe supporting said interlocking members and stops, a suitablesupport,'and means for holding said abutment-frame in its supportedposition.

11. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination of aseries of settingkeys of different denominations, a series of rodsattached to said keys, interlocking members with enlargements of unequaldimensions detachably connected to said rods, a series of stops ofunequal dimensions movable by said interlocking members, a movableabutmentframe to support said interlocking members and stops, wherebyonly a predetermined number of keys can be operated at one time.

12. In a voting-machine interlocking mechanism, the combination with aseries of setting-keys of different denominations, a series ofinterlocking members having enlargements of unequal dimensions, a seriesof stops movable by said interlocking members, a series of rodsconnecting said setting-keys and interlocking members, and a movableabutmentframe to support said interlocking members and stops, andprevents the operation of more than a predetermined number of keys at atime, and a plurality of single-candidate movable abutment-frames toprevent the operation of more than one key at a time, a suitablesupport, and a single means to look said abutment-frames simultaneously.

In testimony WlIGlGOf I a'tiix my signature in presence of twoWitnesses.

PHILIP YOE.

\Nitnesses: I

R. J. MOOARTY, O. M. THEOBALD.

